“King of the Border” set for Friday

By Chris Cozzone

There can be only one “King of the Border,” says Team Escalante. And Friday night, that king will be top contender Antonio Escalante. Promoted by Golden Boy and televised on ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” from the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, Escalante (22-2, 14 KOs) will put his high ratings on the line to face cross-border rival Miguel “Mickey” Roman (28-6, 20 KOs), of Juarez. “Everybody has been waiting for this fight for years,” Escalante said at a press conference held yesterday. “You don’t see fights like this very often. But I’m prepared to give 100% – and I know that Mickey, too, will give it all in the ring.”

“I’ve had a real good camp and I’m ready to bring out the best in me Friday night,” Roman said.

Edwin Rosario, trainer of Escalante: “Be prepared to see Tony do different things in the ring. We’re ready for a war and it will last however long Tony decides it will last.”

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Felipe de la Torres, trainer of Roman: “Mickey is here to perform and to give you your money’s worth. We know it’s a tough fight but we’ve been in this situation before. We are very confident.”

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Lester Bedford, Escalante’s manager: “We were hesitant at first, when this fight came up. But to be a world champ, you have to beat fighters like Roman. The goal after this is a world championship.”

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Reginaldo Kuchle, Roman’s promoter: “It was difficult to take the fight, for they have been friends for five years. We don’t know who the winner will be, but we know it’s going to be a great fight.”